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Historical Timeline

1871
First general election in the new province of British Columbia
B.C.’s 1st Parliament was comprised of 25 members elected from 12 electoral districts.
1872
First women’s suffrage bill introduced in the Legislative Assembly, defeated by a vote of 23 to 2
1873
White female property holders are permitted to vote in municipal elections
The Legislative Assembly passes An Act to Extend the Rights of Property of Married Women
This Act provided that real estate owned by a married woman could be “enjoyed by her for her separate use” and that a married woman’s wages and earnings would be “deemed her own property, free from her husband’s control or debts.”
1874
First Nations and Chinese women and men are disenfranchised
There were approximately 23,000 First Nations people in British Columbia at the time, while the settler population numbered under 11,000.
1876
Property ownership is dropped as a qualification for voting in provincial elections
1880s-1890s
Women’s organizations are active in the early suffrage movement, petitioning the Legislative Assembly, writing articles and holding public meetings
The Victoria and Vancouver Island Council of Women – seen here on the steps of the Parliament Buildings – successfully lobbied the provincial government in 1895 to allow women to stand for election to local school boards. This group was among many in B.C. that would later fight for suffrage on the provincial stage.

Image F-02309 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives
Many petitions calling for women’s suffrage (or franchise) are submitted to the Legislative Assembly.
1891-1914
16 women’s suffrage bills are introduced and defeated in the Legislative Assembly
1895
Japanese women and men are disenfranchised
1903
First provincial election involving political parties
Before 1903, many elected Members of the Legislative Assembly sat as independents or informally supported or opposed the Premier. Allegiances were often fragile and could change during the life of a Parliament.
1907
South Asian women and men are disenfranchised
1910
The British Columbia Political Equality League (BCPEL) holds its inaugural convention
The BCPEL included men and women as members and was formed with the singular goal of securing women the right to vote. Among its activities, the BCPEL amassed thousands of signatures for petitions presented to the Legislative Assembly.
The suffrage movement in Canada and B.C. employed prominent speakers, such as women’s rights campaigner and author Nellie McClung, who travelled to many provinces, rallying people to the cause.

Image I-68908 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives
1914
First World War begins
With the outbreak of the First World War, suffrage groups channeled their efforts into supporting the war effort. By this time, many women were also contributing meaningfully to family finances and provincial revenues in B.C., providing an increasingly powerful rationale for giving women a voice in how the province was being run.
1916
In September, a referendum on women’s suffrage is held in conjunction with the provincial general election, with 65 per cent of participating male voters expressing support for women’s suffrage
In January of 1916, Manitoba had made history as the first province in Canada to grant women the right to vote and stand for election. Victories soon followed in Saskatchewan and Alberta, strengthening the B.C. suffragists’ position and resolve.
1917
The Provincial Elections Act is amended to grant women who qualify as British subjects the right to vote in provincial elections and to stand as candidates for election to the Legislative Assembly
1918
Mary Ellen Smith wins a by-election in the provincial riding of Vancouver City, becoming the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly

Following Smith’s victory, newspapers joked about the difficulties of adapting to the presence of a woman in provincial politics. The Province, January 26, 1918.

The federal government passes An Act to Confer the Electoral Franchise upon Women, granting women who qualify as British subjects in B.C. and across Canada the right to vote in federal elections – the legislation comes into effect on January 1, 1919
The Legislative Assembly passes An Act to fix a Minimum Wage for Women, with the Minister of Labour crediting the legislation to the efforts of Independent member Mary Ellen Smith
1920
The Legislative Assembly passes the B.C. Mothers’ Pension Act, the province’s first social assistance legislation
In 1918, Mary Ellen Smith, supported by representatives from various women’s charities, labour groups and religious organizations, had approached the government to lobby for the introduction of a mother’s pension. Such legislation would provide financial support to war widows, women with incapacitated husbands, deserted wives and unwed mothers.
Their lobbying efforts were so persuasive that a commission was appointed to review the matter. Through public hearings held in seventeen locations around the province, the commission found that there was overwhelming support for the initiative and, in April of 1920, the Liberal government of Premier John Oliver passed the B.C. Mother’s Pension Act.
1921
Mary Ellen Smith becomes the first woman in the British Empire to be appointed a cabinet minister – without portfolio
The Legislative Assembly passes An Act Concerning the Employment of Women before and after Childbirth, providing up to six weeks of maternity leave for working women
This legislation enabled women to take a limited leave of absence before and after giving birth and made it unlawful to dismiss women for these absences. A working woman was also permitted thirty minutes twice a day to nurse her child while at work. Employers not abiding by the legislation were subject to hefty fines.
1929
Following a ruling from the British Privy Council (Canada’s highest Court of Appeal at the time), Canadian women are declared ‘persons’ under the British North America Act and eligible to be appointed to the Senate of Canada
1931
Doukhobor, Mennonite and Hutterite women and men are disenfranchised
1934
As a result of a provincial by-election on July 14, the percentage of women members increases to just over four per cent (2/48 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1939-1945
During the Second World War, women are employed at shipyards, in plywood, pulp and paper mills and other industries traditionally closed to women
Shop Stewards in the canteen of the Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver. Beginning in 1942, Burrard Dry Dock hired over 1000 women, all of whom were dismissed at the end of the war to make way for returning soldiers.

Image 8073 courtesy of North Vancouver Archives
1941
As a result of the provincial general election on October 21, the percentage of women members increases to just over ten per cent (5/48 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1947
Chinese and South Asian women and men are enfranchised
Following the Second World War, official discrimination against various groups declined. The participation of First Nations and Chinese and South Asian British Columbians in the war, coupled with the establishment of the United Nations, prompted the provincial government to begin repealing discriminatory legislation. In 1947, the Provincial Elections Act was amended to allow Chinese and South Asian women and men the right to vote.
1948
Mennonite and Hutterite women and men are enfranchised
1949
First Nations and Japanese women and men are enfranchised
Frank Calder becomes the first First Nations person elected to a provincial legislature in Canada; he would later become B.C.’s first First Nations cabinet minister.
1950
Nancy Hodges is the first woman in the Commonwealth to be elected Speaker

Nancy Hodges pictured in the Speaker’s chair

Image I-32485 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives
1952
Doukhobor women and men are enfranchised
Tilly Rolston is the first woman in Canada to be appointed a cabinet minister with portfolio
Tilly Rolston, the Minister of Education, seated at the cabinet table (fourth from left)

Image B-06613 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives
1953
Nancy Hodges is the first woman from British Columbia appointed to serve in the Senate of Canada
As a result of the provincial general election of June 12, the percentage of women members is just over six per cent (3/48 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1960
As a result of the provincial general election of September 12, the percentage of women members is just under six per cent (3/52 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1964
The Jury Amendment Act stipulates that women cannot be excluded from sitting on juries based solely on their sex
1965
Grace MacInnis is the first B.C. woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons; elected provincially to the Legislative Assembly (1941)
1972
Rosemary Brown is the first black woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada
“Women should enter politics to bring about change. It's a tough arena, and an unpleasant one. The sacrifices called for can only be justified on the grounds that we are indeed making the world or our community a better place than it is.” – Rosemary Brown

Canada Post issued a postage stamp in honour of
Rosemary Brown in February 2009
Eileen Dailly is the first woman to serve as Acting President of the Executive Council

As a result of the provincial general election on August 30, the percentage of women Members of the Legislative Assembly increases to close to 11 per cent (6/55 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
Girls are admitted into the Legislative Page Program for the first time
Excerpt from Vancouver Sun, October 13, 1972
1973
The British Columbia Human Rights Code is passed, prohibiting discrimination based upon sex or marital status
1975
Grace McCarthy is the first woman in Canada to serve as Deputy Premier
1983
As a result of the provincial general election on May 5, the percentage of women members remains consistent at just under 11 per cent (6/57 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1991
Rita Johnston is the first woman in Canada to serve as Premier
Judi Tyabji is the first Indo-Canadian woman elected to the Legislative Assembly and first member to give birth while in office
As a result of the provincial general election on October 17, the percentage of women members increases to over 25 per cent (19/75 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
1993
Kim Campbell is the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Canada; elected to the Legislative Assembly (1986)
“People ask me, 'are you proud of the fact that you were Canada’s first woman prime minister?’ I respond, 'yes, but I’d be prouder still to say I was Canada’s tenth woman prime minister.’” – Kim Campbell
1996
Ida Chong and Jenny Wai Ching Kwan are the first Chinese-Canadians elected to the Legislative Assembly
2000
The Legislative Assembly Allowances and Pensions Act (now the Members’ Remuneration and Pensions Act) is amended to provide the Speaker with authority to approve leaves of absence, allowing for maternity and paternity leave benefits for members
2001
Iona Campagnolo is the first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor in B.C.

Image courtesy of Government House
As a result of the general election on May 16, the percentage of women members decreases to 24 percent (19/79 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
2005
Carole James is the first woman to serve as Leader of the Official Opposition and first woman of Métis descent elected to the Legislative Assembly
2009
Mable Elmore is the first person of Filipino heritage elected to the Legislative Assembly
Naomi Yamamoto is the first Japanese-Canadian elected to the Legislative Assembly
2011
Shirley Bond is the first woman to serve as Attorney General
2013
Jane Jae Kyung Shin is the first Korean-Canadian elected to the Legislative Assembly
Vicki Huntington is the first woman re-elected to the Legislative Assembly as an Independent member
Christy Clark is the first woman elected as Premier
2016
Melanie Mark is the first First Nations woman elected to the Legislative Assembly
As a result of the by-elections on February 2, the percentage of women members increases to over 37 percent (32/85 Members of the Legislative Assembly)
2017
Katrina Chen, Bowinn Ma and Anne Kang are the first Taiwanese-Canadians elected to the Legislative Assembly